Karur stampede: 'Something wrong going on in Madras HC', says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday turned down Tamil Nadu government's plea to modify its order suspending a one-man inquiry commission and the SIT to look into the Karur stampede in which 41 people were killed saying, “We want everything to be fair and impartial.”

A Bench of justices JK Maheswari and Vijay Bishnoi also took a critical view of the report filed by Registrar General of the Madras High Court saying, “There is something wrong going on in the high court. This is not a right thing that is happening in the high court.”

On October 13, the top court ordered a CBI probe into the Karur stampede, which occurred during a rally of actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on September 27, saying that the incident has shaken the national conscience and deserves a fair and impartial investigation.

In its order on a plea by TVK for an independent probe, the top court had set up a three-member supervisory committee headed by former apex court judge Ajay Rastogi to monitor the CBI investigation and suspended the directions for the appointment of SIT and a one-man enquiry commission.

It had also criticised Justice N Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court for entertaining petitions on the incident, ordering an SIT probe and making observations against TVK and its members without making them a party to the case.

On Friday, during the hearing senior advocate P Wilson, appearing for Tamil Nadu government submitted that the state's commission will not interfere with the CBI probe and will confine itself to giving recommendations to prevent such incidents.

The Bench told Wilson to read the notification appointing commission and said, “We want everything to be fair and impartial”.

The Bench did not issue notice on the plea or vacated its interim order of October 13.

Justice Maheshwari said the Registrar General of the high court has filed a report and observed, “There is something wrong going in the high court. This is not a right thing that is happening in the high court. We have seen the Registrar General's report. We will deal with it”.

The Bench said it has perused the report sent by the Registrar General of the high court on how a writ petition seeking SOP for rallies was registered as a criminal writ petition.

Wilson and senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, also appearing for the state, sought a copy of the Registrar General's report saying they would like to file a reply.

The top court issued notice on a fresh plea filed by one KK Ramesh on Karur stampede issue and asked the parties to complete the pleading and posted the matter for final hearing.

On October 30, the top court asked a Karur stampede victim's family to approach the CBI with its allegation that it was threatened by officials.

“It is contended that the petitioner has been threatened and cajoled by the officials of the State. However, in this regard, it suffices to say that the petitioner may apply to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

“Except to say the same, at present, no further orders are required to be passed on the interlocutory applications,” the Bench had said.

The court on October 13 ordered a CBI probe into the stampede. The top court had said the Karur stampede has left an imprint in the minds of people throughout the country.

It said the incident has wide ramifications with respect to the lives of the citizens and enforcing the fundamental rights of the families who lost their kith and kin is of utmost importance.

The court took note of the political undertone of the case and said “without having regard to the gravity of the incident”, comments have been made before the media by top police officers, which may create a doubt in the minds of the citizenry on impartiality and a fair investigation.

Earlier, police said the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected number of 10,000 participants, and blamed a seven-hour delay on Vijay's part in reaching the venue for the tragedy.